Driver for burglary gang that terrified families is locked up

A driver for a burglary gang has been jailed for more than four years. Kane Nolan was linked by police to three break-ins and in one a victim was battered about the head with a baseball bat.

Nolan, 22, of Ena Crescent, Leigh, appeared in Chester Crown Court where he was sentenced to 57 months. He had previously pleaded guilty to joint enterprise of a burglary of a dwelling.

On September 3rd 2021, police received reports of a break-in at an address in Ashberry Drive, Appleton, while the owner was on holiday. A French door panel had been smashed and a search of the master bedroom had taken place. A hammer had been left on the bedroom floor, which the owner confirmed belonged to him, but was usually kept in the garden.

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Several items of jewellery were stolen which were of sentimental value. The following day, a Facebook post alerted the complainant to items of jewellery being found nearby. Police searched the area and the jewellery was found, and a handbag was also discovered which was identified as stolen.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data was reviewed and showed a silver Mercedes in the Warrington area near the address shortly before and after the incident. This was registered to Nolan. Cell site analysis also put Nolan’s mobile phone in the area around the time of the offence.

Just one week later, on September 10th 2021, another property was targeted in Ashberry Drive. CCTV footage showed men picking up an ornament in a garden and using it to ram open a garage door. They were not able to open the door in the garage which leads to the rest of the property, and the occupants called police.

Despite the homeowner shouting at the